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The Landlord At Lions Head
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第2章
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IV。

Thepainterwentroundtothefrontofthehouseandwalkedupanddownbeforeitfordifferentpointsofview。Herandownthelanesomeway,andthencamebackandclimbedtotheslopingfieldbehindthebarn,wherehecouldlookatLion’sHeadovertheroofofthehouse。Hetriedanopenspaceintheorchard,wherehebackedagainstthewallenclosingthelittleburial—ground。Helookedroundatitwithoutseemingtoseeit,andthenwentbacktothelevelwherethehousestood。"Thisistheplace,"hesaidtohimself。Buttheboy,whohadbeenlurkingafterhim,withthedoglurkingat,hisownheelsinturn,tookthewordsasaprofferofconversation。

"Ithoughtyou’dcometoit,"hesneered。

"Didyou?"askedthepainter,withasmilefortheunsatisfiedgrudgeintheboy’stone。"Whydidn’tyoutellmesooner?"

Theboylookeddown,andapparentlymadeuphismindtowaituntilsomethingsufficientlysevereshouldcometohimforaretort。"WantI

shouldhelpyougetyourthings?"heasked,presently。

"Why,yes,"saidthepainter,withaglanceofsurprise。"Ishallbemuchobligedforalift。"Hestartedtowardtheporchwherehisburdenlay,andtheboyranbeforehim。Theyjointlyseparatedtheknapsackfromthethingstiedtoit,andthepainterlettheboycarrytheeaselandcampstoolwhichdevelopedthemselvesfromtheirfoldsandhinges,andbroughtthecolorsandcanvashimselftothespothehadchosen。Theboylookedatthetagontheeaselafteritwasplaced,andreadthenameonit——JereWestover。"That’safunnyname。"

"I’mgladitamusesyou,"saidtheownerofit。

Againtheboycastdownhiseyesdiscomfited,andseemedagainresolvingsilentlytobidehistimeandwatchforanotherchance。

Westoverforgothiminthefidgethefellinto,tryingthisandthateffect,withhisheadslantedonewayandthenslantedtheother,hishandhelduptoshutoutthemountainbelowthegranitemassofLion’sHead,andthenchangedtocutofftheskyabove;andthenbothhandsliftedinparalleltoconfinethepicture。Hemadesometentativescrawlsonhiscanvasincharcoal,andhewastedsomuchtimethatthelightonthemountain—sidebegantotaketherichtoneoftheafternoondeepeningtoevening。Asoftflushstoleintoit;thesundippedbehindthetopsouthofthemountain,andLion’sHeadstoodoutagainsttheintenseclearnessofthewest,whichbegantobeflushedwithexquisitesuggestionsofvioletandcrimson。

"GoodLord!"saidWestover;andheflewathiscolorsandbegantopaint。

Hehadgothiscanvasintosuchastatethathealonecouldhavefounditmuchmoreintelligiblethanhispalette,whenheheardtheboysaying,overhisshoulder:"Idon’tthinkthatlooksverymuchlikeit。"Hehadlastbeenawareoftheboysittingatthegrassyedgeofthelane,tossingsmallbitsofearthandpebbleacrosstohisdog,whichsatattheotheredgeandsnappedatthem。Thenhelostconsciousnessofhim。

Heanswered,dreamily,whilehefoundatinthewastryingforwithhisbrush:"Perhapsyoudon’tknow。"Hewassosureofhiseffectthatthepopularcensurespeakingintheboy’sopiniononlymadehimhappierinit。

"IknowwhatIsee,"saidtheboy。

"Idoubtit,"saidWestover,andthenhelostconsciousnessofhimagain。

Hewasraptdeepandfarintothejoyofhiswork,andhadnothoughtbutforthat,andforthedimquestionwhetheritwouldbesuchanotherdayto—morrow,withthatlightagainonLion’sHead,whenhewasatlastsensibleofanoisethathefelthemusthavebeenhearingsometimewithoutnotingit。Itwasalamentable,soundofscreaming,asofsomeoneinmortalterror,mixedwithwildentreaties。"Oh,don’t,Jeff!

Oh,don’t,don’t,don’t!Oh,please!Oh,doletusbe!Oh,Jeff,don’t!"

Westoverlookedroundbewildered,andnotable,amidtheclamoroftheechoes,tomakeoutwherethecriescamefrom。Then,downatthepointwherethelanejoinedtheroadtothesouthwardandtheroadlostitselfintheshadowofawoodland,hesawtheboyleapingbackandforthacrossthetrack,withhisdogbesidehim;hewasshoutingandhisdogbarkingfuriously;thosescreamsandentreatiescamefromwithintheshadow。

Westoverplungeddownthelaneheadlong,withaspeedthatgatheredateachbound,andthatalmostflunghimonhisfacewhenhereachedthelevelwheretheboyandthedogweredancingbackandforthacrosstheroad。Thenhesaw,crouchingintheedgeofthewood,alittlegirl,whowasutteringtheappealshehadheard,andclingingtoher,withafaceoffranticterror,achildoffiveorsixyears;hercrieshadgrownhoarse,andhadahard,mechanicalactionastheyfollowedoneanother。

Theywerereallyinnodanger,fortheboyheldhisdogtightbyhiscollar,andwasmerelydelightinghimselfwiththeirterror。

Thepainterhurledhimselfuponhim,and,withaquickgripuponhiscollar,gavehimhalfadozenflat—handedblowswhereverhecouldplantthemandthenflunghimreelingaway。

"Youinfernallittleruffian!"heroaredathim;andthesoundofhisvoicewasenoughforthedog;hebegantoscalethehill—sidetowardthehousewithoutamoment’sstay。

Thechildrenstillcrouchedtogether,andWestovercouldhardlymakethemunderstandthattheywereinhiskeepingwhenhebentoverthemandbadethemnotbefrightened。Thelittlegirlsetaboutwipingthechild’seyesonheraproninamotherlyfashion;herownweredryenough,andWestoverfanciedtherewasmoreoffurythanoffrightinherface。Sheseemedlosttoanysenseofhispresence,andkeptontalkingfiercelytoherself,whilesheputthelittleboyinorder,likeanindignantwoman。

"Great,mean,uglything!I’lltelltheteacheronhim,that’swhatI

will,assoonaseverschoolbegins。I’llseeifhecancomeroundwiththatdogofhisscaringfolks!Iwouldn’t’a’beenabitafraidifithadn’t’a’beenforFranky。Don’tcryanymore,Franky。Don’tyouseethey’regone?Ipresumehethinksitsmarttoscarealittleboyandagirl。IfIwasaboyonce,I’dshowhim!"

ShemadenosignofgratitudetoWestover:asfarasanyrecognitionfromherwasconcerned,hisinterventionwassomethingasimpersonalasifithadbeenathunder—boltfallinguponherenemiesfromthesky。

"Wheredoyoulive?"heasked。"I’llgohomewithyouifyou’lltellmewhereyoulive。"

Shelookedupathiminadaze,andWestoverheardtheDurginboysaying:

"Shelivesrightthereinthatlittlewood—coloredhouseattheotherendofthelane。Thereain’tnocalltogohomewithher。"

Westoverturnedandsawtheboykneelingattheedgeofaclumpofbushes,wherehemusthavestruck;hewasrubbing,withatuftofgrass,atthedirtgroundintothekneesofhistrousers。

Thelittle,girlturnedhawkishlyuponhim。"Notforanythingyoucando,JeffDurgin!"

Theboydidnotanswer。

"There!"shesaid,givingafinalpullandtwitchtothedressofherbrother,andtakinghimbythehandtenderly。"Now,comerightalong,Franky。"

"Letmehaveyourotherhand,"saidWestover,and,withthelittleboybetweenthem,theysetofftowardthepointwherethelanejoinedtheroadonthenorthward。TheyhadtopassthebusheswhereJeffDurginwascrouching,andthelittlegirlturnedandmadeafaceathim。"Oh,oh!

Idon’tthinkIshouldhavedonethat,"saidWestover。

"Idon’tcare!"saidthelittlegirl。Butshesaid,inexplanationandpartialexcuse:"Hetriestoscareallthegirls。I’lllethimknow’thecan’tscareone!"

WestoverlookeduptowardtheDurginhousewithareturnofinterestinthecanvashehadleftinthelaneontheeasel。Nothinghadhappenedtoit。Atthedoorofthebarnhesawthefarmerandhiseldestsonslantingforwardandstaringdownthehillatthepointhehadcomefrom。

Mrs。Durginwaslookingoutfromtheshelteroftheporch,andsheturnedandwentinwithJeff’sdogatherskirtswhenWestovercameinsightwiththechildren。

V。

Westoverhadhisteawiththefamily,butnothingwassaidordonetoshowthatanyofthemresentedorevenknewofwhathadhappenedtotheboyfromhim。Jeffhimselfseemedtohavenogrudge。HewentoutwithWestover,whenthemealwasended,andsatonthestepsoftheporchwithhim,watchingthepainterwatchthelightdarkenonthelonelyheightsandinthelonelydepthsaround。Westoversmokedapipe,andthefiregleamedandsmoulderedinitregularlywithhisbreathing;theboy,onalower’step,pulledatthelongearsofhisdogandgazedupathim。

Theywerebothsilenttillthepainterasked:"Whatdoyoudoherewhenyou’renottryingtoscarelittlechildrentodeath?"

Theboyhunghisheadandsaid,withtheeffectofexcusingalongarrearsofuselessness:"I’mgoin’toschoolassoonasitcommences。"

"There’sonebranchofyoureducationthatIshouldliketoundertakeifIeversawyouatathinglikethatagain。Don’tyoufeelashamedofyourself?"

Theboypulledsohardatthedog’searthatthedoggaveafaintyelpofprotest。

"Theymight’a’seenthatIhadhimbythecollar。Iwa’n’ta—goin’toletgo。"

"Well,thenexttimeIhaveyoubythecollarIwon’tletgo,either,"

saidthepainter;buthefeltaninadequacyinhisthreat,andheimaginedasuperfluity,andhemadesomehastetoask:"whoarethey?"

"Whitwellistheirname。Theyliveinthatlittlehousewhereyoutookthem。Theirfather’sgotapieceoflandonZion’sHeadthathe’sclearin’offforthetimber。Theirmother’sdead,andCynthykeepshouse。She’salwaysmakin’upnamesandfaces,"addedtheboy。"Shethinksherselfawfulsmart。ThatFranky’saperfectcry—baby。"

"Well,uponmyword!Youarealittleruffian,"saidWestover,andheknockedtheashesoutofhispipe。"ThenexttimeyoumeetthatpoorlittlecreatureyoutellherthatIthinkyou’reabouttheshabbiestchapIknow,andthatIhopetheteacherwillbeginwhereIleftoffwithyouandnotleaveblackguardenoughinyouto——"

Hestoppedforwantofafittingfigure,andtheboysaid:"Iguesstheteacherwon’ttouchme。"

Westoverrose,andtheboyflunghisdogawayfromhimwithhisfoot。

"WantIshouldshowyouwheretosleep?"

"Yes,"saidWestover,andtheboyhulkedinbeforehim,vanishingintothedarkoftheinterior,andpresentlyappearedwithalightedhand—lamp。HeledthewayupstairstoafrontroomlookingdownupontheporchroofandovertowardZion’sHead,whichWestovercouldseedimlyoutlinedagainstthenightsky,whenheliftedtheedgeofthepapershadeandpeeredout。

Theroomwasneat,withgreatercomfortinitsappointmentsthanhehopedfor。Hetriedthebed,andfoundithard,butofstraw,andnotthefeathershehaddreaded;whiletheboylookedintothewater—pitchertoseeifitwasfull;andthenwentoutwithoutanyformofgoodnight。

Westoverwouldhaveexpectedtowashinatinbasinatthebackdoor,andwipeonthefamilytowel,butallthemeansoftoilet,suchastheywere,hefoundathandhere,andasurprisewhichhehadfeltatacertaintouchinthecookingreneweditselfattheintelligentarrangementsforhiscomfort。Asecondaryquiltwaslaidacrossthefootofhisbed;hiswindow—shadewaspulleddown,and,thoughthewindowwasshutandtheairstuffywithin,therewasasenseofcleanlinessineverythingwhichwasnotatvariancewiththecloseness。

Thebedfeltfreshwhenhegotintoit,andthesweetbreathofthemountainscameinsocoldthroughthesashhehadliftedthathewasgladtopullthesecondaryquiltupoverhim。Heheardtheclocktickinsomeroombelow;fromanotherquartercamethemuffledsoundofcoughing;butotherwisetheworldwasintenselystill,andhesleptdeepandlong。

VI。

Themenfolkshadfinishedtheirbreakfastandgonetotheirfarm—workhoursbeforeWestovercamedowntohisbreakfast,buttheboyseemedtobeofasmuchearlyleisureashimself,andwasloungingonthethresholdofthebackdoor,withhisdoginwaitinguponhim。Hegavetheeffectofyesterday’scleanlinessfreshenedupwithmorerecentsoapandwater。

AtthemomentWestovercaughtsightofhim,heheardhismothercallingtohimfromthekitchen,"Well,now,comeinandgetyourbreakfast,Jeff,"andtheboycalledtoWestover,inturn,"I’lltellheryou’rehere,"asheroseandcamein—doors。"Iguessshe’sgotyourbreakfastforyou。"

Mrs。DurginbroughtthebreakfastalmostassoonasWestoverhadfoundhiswaytothetable,andshelingeredasifforsomeexpressionofhisopinionuponit。Thebiscuitandthebutterwereverygood,andhesaidso;theeggswerefresh,andthehashfromyesterday’scorned—beefcouldnothavebeenbetter,andhepraisedthem;buthewassilentaboutthecoffee。

"Ita’n’tverygood,"shesuggested。

"Why,I’musedtomakingmyowncoffee;Ilivedsolonginacountrywhereit’snearlythewholeofbreakfastthatIgotintothehabitofit,andIalwayscarrymylittlemachinewithme;butIdon’tliketobringitout,unless——"

"Unlessyoucan’tstandtheotherfolks’s,"saidthewoman,withahumorousgleam。"Well,youneedn’tmindme。Iwantyoushouldhavegoodcoffee,andIguessIa’n’ttoooldtolearn,ifyouwanttoshowme。

Ourfolksdon’tcareforitmuch;theyliketea;andIkindofgotoutofthewayofit。Butathomewehadtohaveit。"Sheexplained,tohisinquiringglance。

"MyfatherkeptthetavernontheoldroadtoSt。Albans,ontheothersideofLion’sHead。That’swhereIalwayslivedtillImarriedhere。"

"Oh,"saidWestover,andhefeltthatshehadproudlywishedtoaccountforaqualitywhichshehopedhehadnoticedinhercooking。Hethoughtshemightbegoingtotellhimsomethingmoreofherself,butsheonlysaid,"Well,anytimeyouwanttoshowmeyourwayofmakin’coffee,"andwentoutoftheroom。

Thatevening,whichwasthecloseofanotherflawlessday,hesatagainwatchingthelightoutside,whenhesawhercomeintothehallwaywithalargeshade—lampinherhand。Shestoppedatthedoorofaroomhehadnotseenyet,andlookedoutathimtoask:

"Won’tyoucomeinandsetintheparlorifyouwantto?"

Hefoundhertherewhenhecamein,andhertwosonswithher;theyoungerwassleepilyputtingawaysomeschool—books,andtheelderseemedtohavebeenhelpinghimwithhislessons。

"He’sgottobeginschoolnextweek,"shesaidtoWestover;andatthepreparationstheothernowbegantomakewithapieceofpaperandaplanchettewhichhehadonthetablebeforehim,sheasked,inthehalf—

mocking,half—deprecatingwaywhichseemedcharacteristicofher:"Youbelieveanyinthat?"

"Idon’tknowthatI’veeverseenitwork,"saidthepainter。

"Well,sometimesitwon’twork,"shereturned,altogethermockinglynow,andsatholdinghershapelyhands,whichwereneithersolargenorsoroughastheymighthavebeen,acrosshermiddleandwatchinghersonwhilethemachinepushedaboutunderhispalm,andhebenthiswaneyesupononeoftheoval—framedphotographsonthewall,asifraptinasupernalvision。Theboystareddrowsilyattheplanchette,jerkingthiswayandthat,andmakingabruptstartsandstops。Atlasttheyoungmanliftedhispalmfromit,andputitasidetostudythehieroglyphicsithadleftonthepaper。

"What’sitsay?"askedhismother。

Theyoungmanwhispered:"Ican’tseemtomakeoutveryclear。IguessI

gottotakealittletimetoit,"headded,leaningbackwearilyinhischair。"Everseenmuchofthemanifestations?"hegaspedatWestover。

"Neverany,before,"saidthepainter,withaleniencyfortheinvalidwhichhedidnotfeelforhisbelief。

Theyoungmantriedforhisvoice,andfoundenoughofittosay:

"There’satrancemediumoverattheHuddle。Hercontrolsays’tIcandevelopintoawritin’medium。"HeseemedtoreferthefactasasortofquestiontoWestover,whocouldthinkofnothingtosaybutthatitmustbeveryinterestingtofeelthatonehadsuchapower。

"Iguesshedon’tknowhe’sgotityet,"hismotherinterposed。"Andplanchettedon’tseemtoknow,either。"

"Weha’n’tgivenitafairtrialyet,"saidtheyoungman,impartially,almostimpassively。

"Wouldn’tyouliketoseeitdosomeofyoursums,Jeff?"saidthemothertothedrowsyboy,blinkinginacorner。"Youbettergotobed。"

Theelderbrotherrose。"IguessI’llgo,too。"

Thefatherhadnotjoinedtheircircleintheparlor,nowbreakingupbycommonconsent。

Mrs。Durgintookupherlampagainandlookedroundontheappointmentsoftheroom,asifshewishedWestovertonotethem,too:thedrabwallpaper,thestiffchairs,thelong,hardsofainhaircloth,thehighbureauofmahoganyveneer。

"Youcancomeinhereandsetorlaydownwheneveryoufeellikeit,"shesaid。"Weuseitmorethanfolksgenerally,Ipresume;wegotinthehabit,havin’itopenforfunerals。"

VII。

Fourorfivedaysofperfectweatherfollowedoneanother,andWestoverworkedhardathispictureinthelateafternoonlighthehadchosenforit。InthemorninghetrampedthroughthewoodsandclimbedthehillswithJeffDurgin,whoseemednevertodoanythingaboutthefarm,andhadaleisureunbrokenbyanythingexceptararecallfromhismothertohelpherinthehouse。Hebuiltthekitchenfire,andgotthewoodforit;

hepickedthebelatedpeaseandtheearlybeansinthegarden,andshelledthem;ontheMondaywhentheschoolopenedhedidashareofthefamilywash,whichseemedtohavebeenbegunbeforedaylight,andWestoversawhimhangingouttheclothesbeforehestartedoffwithhisbooks。Hesufferednoapparentlossofself—respectintheseemployments,and,whilehestillhadhisdaysfree,heputhimselfatWestover’sdisposalwithaneffectofunimpairedequality。Hehadexpected,evidently,thatWestoverwouldwanttofishorshoot,oratleastjoinhiminthehuntforwoodchucks,whichhestillcarriedonwithabatedzealforlackofhiscompanywhenthepaintersatdowntosketchcertainbitsthatstruckhim。WhenhefoundthatWestovercaredfornothinginthewayofsport,aspeoplecommonlyunderstandit,hedidnotopenlycontemnhim。Hehelpedhimgettheflowershestudied,andhelearnedtoknowtruemushroomsfromhim,thoughhedidnotfollowhisteachingineatingthetoadstools,ashismothercalledthem,whentheybroughtthemhometobecooked。

IfitcouldnotbesaidthathesharedtheaffectionwhichbegantogrowupinWestoverfromtheircompanionship,therecouldbenodoubtoftheinteresthetookinhim,thoughitoftenseemedthesamecriticalcuriositywhichappearedintheeyeofhisdogwhenitdweltuponthepainter。FoxhaddivinedinhiswaythatWestoverwasnotonlynottobemolested,butwastoberespectfullytolerated,yetnogleamofkindnesseverlighteduphisfaceatsightofthepainter;heneverwaggedhistailinrecognitionofhim;hesimplyrecognizedhimandnomore,andheremainedpassiveunderWestover’sadvances,whichhehadtheeffectofcovertlyreferringtoJeff,whentheboywasby,forhisapprovalordisapproval;whenhewasnotby,thedog’smannerimpliedareservationofopinionuntilthefactscouldbesubmittedtohismaster。

OntheSaturdaymorningwhichwasthelasttheyweretohavetogether,thethreecomradeshadstrayedfromthevaguewoodroadalongoneoftheunexpectedlevelsonthemountainslopes,andhadcometoastandstillinaplacewhichtheboypretendednottoknowhiswayoutof。Westoverdoubtedhim,forhehadfoundthatJefflikedtogivehimselfcreditforwoodcraftbydiscoveringanescapefromthedepthsoftracklesswildernesses。

"Iguessyouknowwhereweare,"hesuggested。

"No,honestly,"saidtheboy;buthegrinned,andWestoverstilldoubtedhim。

"Hark!What’sthat?"hesaid,hushingfurtherspeechfromhimwithamotionofhishand。Itwasthesoundofanaxe。

"Oh,Iknowwhereweare,"saidJeff。"It’sthatCanuckchoppinginWhitwell’sclearing。Comealong。"

Heledthewaybrisklydownthemountain—sidenow,stoppingfromtimetotimeandverifyinghiscoursebythesoundoftheaxe。Thiscameandwent,andby—and—byitceasedaltogether,andJeffcreptforwardwitharealorfeigneduncertainty。Suddenlyhestopped。Avoicecalled,"

Heigh,there!"andtheboyturnedandfled,crashingthroughtheunderbrushatatangent,withhisdogathisheels。

Westoverlookedafterthem,andthencameforward。Alankfigureofamanatthefootofapoplar,whichhehadbeguntofell,stoodwaitinghim,onehandonhisaxe—helveandtheotheronhiship。Therewasthescentoffreshlysmittenbarkandsap—woodintheair;thegroundwaspavedwithbroad,cleanchips。

"Good—morning,"saidWestover。

"Howareyou?"returnedtheother,withoutmovingormakinganysignofwelcomeforamoment。Butthenheliftedhisaxeandstruckitintothecarfonthetree,andcametomeetWestover。

Asheadvancedheheldouthis。hand。"Oh,you’retheonethatstoppedthatfellowthatdaywhenhewastryin’toscaremychildren。Well,I

thoughtIshouldrunacrossyousometime。"HeshookhandswithWestover,intokenofthegratitudewhichdidnotexpressitselfinwords。"Howareyou?TreatyouprettywellupattheDurgins’?Iguessso。Theoldwomanknowshowtocook,anyway。Jackson’saboutthebesto’thelotaboveground,thoughIdon’tknowasIknowverymuchagainsttheoldman,either。Butthatboy!IdeclareI’mostfeelliketakin’

thetopofhisheadoffwhenhegetsathistricks。Setdown。"

Whitwell,asWestoverdivinedthemantobe,tookaseathimselfonahighstump,whichsuitedhislengthofleg,andcourteouslywavedWestovertoaplaceontheloginfrontofhim。Along,raggedbeardofbrown,withlinesofgrayinit,hungfromhischinandmountedwelluponhisthincheekstowardhisfriendlyeyes。Hismustachelaysunkenonhislip,whichhadfalleninwiththelossofhisupperteeth。Fromthelowerjawafewincisorsshowedatthisslantandthatashetalked。

"Well,well!"hesaid,withtheairofwishingthetalktogoon,butwithouthavinganythingimmediatelytoofferhimself。

Westoversaid,"Thankyou,"ashedroppedonthelog,andWhitwelladded,relentingly:"Idon’tsupposeafellow’ssomuchtoblame,ifhe’sgotthedevilinhim,aswhatthedevilis。"

HereferredthepointwithatwinkleofhiseyestoWestover,whosaid:

"It’salwaysaquestion,ofcourse,whetherit’sthedevil。Itmaybeoriginalsinwiththefellowhimself。"

"Well,that’ssomethingso,"saidWhitwell,withpleasureinthedistinctionratherthanassent。"ButIguessitain’toriginalsinintheboy。Gotitfromhisgran’fatherpoottystraight,Ishouldsay,andmaybetheoldmanhaditsecondhand。Ha’dtosayjustwheresomuchcussednessgitsstatted。"

"Hisfather’sfather?"askedWestover,willingtohumorWhitwell’sevidentwishtophilosophizetheDurgins’history。

"Mother’s。HekepttheoldtavernstandonthewestsideofLion’sHead,ontheSt。AlbansRoad,andIguesshekeptapoottygoodhouseintheoldtimeswhenthestagesstoppedwithhim。Evernoticedhowamanonthemeansideinpoliticsalwaysknowshowtokeepahotel?Well,it’ssomethingcurious。Iftherewaseverameansidetoanyquestion,oldMasonwasonit。Myfolksusedtolivearoundthere,andIcanrememberwhenIwasaboyhangin’aroundthebar—roomnightshearin’himarguethatcoloredfolkshadnosouls;andalongaboutthetimethefugitive—

slavelawwaspassedthefolkspoottynearrunhimouto’townforputtin’theUnitedStatesmarshalonthescentofafellowthatwasbreakin’forCanada。Well,itwasjustsowhenthewarcome。ItwasknownforafactthathewasinwiththemSeceshdevilsupoverthelinethatwasplannin’araidintoVermontin’63。He’dgotpoottylowdownbythattime;railroadstookoffallthetravel;tavern’dgottobearegulardoggery;oldmanalwaysdranksome,Iguess。ThatwasagoodwhileafterhisgirlhadmarriedDurgin。Hewasdeadagainstit,anditbrokehimupconsid’ablewhenshewouldhavehim:Well,onenighttheoldstandburntupandhiminit,andneitherof’eminsured。"

Whitwelllaughedwithapleasureinhissatirewhichgavethemonumentsinhislowerjawarathersinisteraction。But,asifhefeltarebukeinWestover’ssilence,headded:"Thereain’tanythingagainstMis’

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫,醒来一梦似千年,重生于下堂妃身躯中的她,将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读

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